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HR 259 108th Congress House

Civic Participation and Rehabilitation Act of 2003

Official title: To secure the Federal voting rights of persons who have been released from incarceration.

Introduced: January 8, 2003 See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Building constructionCivil actions and liabilityCivil rights enforcementCongress
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Congressional electionsCorrectional institutionsCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEx-offendersFederal aid to law enforcementFederal preemptionFines (Penalties)Government Operations and PoliticsGovernment publicityInjunctionsLawMaintenance and repairPolitical rightsPresidential electionsPrisonersPrisonsState lawsVoting rights
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 6, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Jan 8, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 8, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E40-41)
Jan 8, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 6, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Civic Participation and Rehabilitation Act of 2003 - Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for Federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense, unless the individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility at the time of the election.

Authorizes the Attorney General, in a civil action, to obtain any declaratory or injunctive relief necessary to remedy a violation of this Act. Creates a private right of action, subject to specified requirements.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 10
All 10 Democratic 7 Independent 1
CHRISTENSEN, DONNA
· Oct 7, 2003
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Jan 27, 2003
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Jan 27, 2003
 D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Jan 27, 2003
 D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · Jan 8, 2003
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Jan 8, 2003
FROST, MARTIN
· Jan 8, 2003
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jan 8, 2003
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Jan 8, 2003
 D
Waters, Maxine
California · Jan 8, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 259: Civic Participation and Rehabilitation Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-259/
MLA
"H.R. 259: Civic Participation and Rehabilitation Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-259/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 259, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-259/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 259: Civic Participation and Rehabilitation Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-259/)
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